The Way We Were

Nov. 6, 1924

G. E. Diemart of the Wrangell Dairy received a fine milk cow from the states on the Yukon when it called at port Monday night. The cow is a strong-willed animal. She did not like the looks of the deckhands who had her in tow, so after dragging two or three of them around over the dock she broke away and came uptown. After looking around for a time she decided to spend the night at the Lemieux ranch. She was not obstreperous, however, when taken to the dairy on the following day.

Nov. 4, 1949

A thorough study of the feeding habits of wildfowl around the Stikine River was made by U.S. Fish and Wildlife crew last weekend. The party headed by Winson A. Etkins, Fish and Wildlife management supervisor, included U. C. Nelson, research biologist; W. A. Chipperfield, Forest Service agent; Lee Ellis of Wrangell and Dan Bates and Monte Clemmons of the local Fish and Wildlife Service office. They made a study of aquatic plant life on Farm Island and Nore’s Island at the mouth of the river and also took specimens all the way to the border. They collected the stomachs of about 70 birds, which included those of Canadian geese, snow geese, pintail, teal and mallards. The contents will be taken to laboratories and studied and a report will be published on the findings.

Nov. 6, 1974

A declining market in Japan has forced Wrangell Lumber Co. to slash its workforce by nearly a third, dropping the work schedule to one shift. Mill Manager Lance Ingle said 40 workers have been notified of layoff, effective with the close of the work day this Friday. Alaska Wood Products, Wrangell Lumber’s partner mill, will continue production with its full two shifts for the foreseeable future, Ingle said. A declining market in Japan caused minor slowdowns at the local mills through the summer, but surpluses finally reached the point this month where the workforce had to be reduced, Ingle said. “Spruce cant inventory in Japan has reached the 50-million-board-feet level, the largest excess of lumber inventory from Wrangelll mills ever stored in Japanese lumber yards,” said Ingle.

Nov. 4, 1999

Elk hunters wrapped up the 1999 season on Sunday, Oct. 31, bringing in 15 animals. The season was held on Etolin Island, which produced 13 elk, and Zarembo, where two were taken. Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Ed Crane said the majority, 10, were large bulls, while the rest were smaller bulls. Elk are not native to Alaska but were introduced on Afognak Island in 1929. Two subspecies, Roosevelt elk and Rocky Mountain elk, were transported to Southeast Alaska from Oregon in 1987. Fifty elk were transplanted that year, of which two-thirds died in the first 18 months from various causes. After that time, the population stabilized and is now permanently established, with estimated numbers of 250 to 300. Elk are most commonly seen on south Etolin Island, with a growing population on Zarembo Island.